After watching Vigneault's handling of the line combinations tonight it is pretty clear that there is not room on this team for all the forwards we have. It's not even a matter of finances either. Booth and Kassian can both play on the 4th line, but that is a gross waste of cap space in Booth and Kassian won't develop into the player Vancouver needs him to be down the road. Higgins fits in nicely anywhere in the middle 6, as do Raymond and Hansen. But none of them are going to be properly utilized on the 4th line.

Based on what we see with Booth back, I think the team needs to look at moving one of Booth or Higgins with Luongo. It makes no sense to be wasting up that kind of money on a fourth line player. I like the speed that Booth brings, and prefer him to Higgins most games. The team is just not as balanced in the forward department as it used to be it seems.....

We need a shut down 3rd line centre who makes $4million per. NOT. This team needs a top notch, top 6 forward to play with Kesler and we need a right handed shot top 4 defenseman. Booth, Kassian and Higgins ain't gonna cut it as top 6 forwards. I don't like separating Burrows from the Sedins. All three are at their best when they are a line. We need better offensive support from our defense, 5 on 5.

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate

RoyalDude wrote:We need a shut down 3rd line centre who makes $4million per. NOT. This team needs a top notch, top 6 forward to play with Kesler and we need a right handed shot top 4 defenseman. Booth, Kassian and Higgins ain't gonna cut it as top 6 forwards. I don't like separating Burrows from the Sedins. All three are at their best when they are a line. We need better offensive support from our defense, 5 on 5.

Dear Dude,

I still haven't watched a game. I rely on your excellent expert opinion. You seem to have the passion. The time. And more impotent, the arm chair. Please keep them coming.Please excuse the quick post, I have to leave for the station, I have a train to catch....

RoyalDude wrote:We need a shut down 3rd line centre who makes $4million per. NOT. This team needs a top notch, top 6 forward to play with Kesler and we need a right handed shot top 4 defenseman. Booth, Kassian and Higgins ain't gonna cut it as top 6 forwards. I don't like separating Burrows from the Sedins. All three are at their best when they are a line. We need better offensive support from our defense, 5 on 5.

Dear Dude,

I still haven't watched a game. I rely on your excellent expert opinion. You seem to have the passion. The time. And more impotent, the arm chair. Please keep them coming.Please excuse the quick post, I have to leave for the station, I have a train to catch....

Regards,Spiderman

The Dude marches to a different drummer, on a different bandwidth, but on the same wagon.

Meds wrote:After watching Vigneault's handling of the line combinations tonight it is pretty clear that there is not room on this team for all the forwards we have. It's not even a matter of finances either. Booth and Kassian can both play on the 4th line, but that is a gross waste of cap space in Booth and Kassian won't develop into the player Vancouver needs him to be down the road. Higgins fits in nicely anywhere in the middle 6, as do Raymond and Hansen. But none of them are going to be properly utilized on the 4th line.

Based on what we see with Booth back, I think the team needs to look at moving one of Booth or Higgins with Luongo. It makes no sense to be wasting up that kind of money on a fourth line player. I like the speed that Booth brings, and prefer him to Higgins most games. The team is just not as balanced in the forward department as it used to be it seems.....

Isn't that why players like the Sedins, Kesler, Bieksa, Edler, etc took hometown discounts, so they could pay for depth on the 3rd and 4th lines?

RoyalDude wrote:We need a shut down 3rd line centre who makes $4million per. NOT. This team needs a top notch, top 6 forward to play with Kesler and we need a right handed shot top 4 defenseman. Booth, Kassian and Higgins ain't gonna cut it as top 6 forwards. I don't like separating Burrows from the Sedins. All three are at their best when they are a line. We need better offensive support from our defense, 5 on 5.

Who is saying we need a $4 million 3rd line guy? Again, I said Brooks Laich-ish, not actually him, as he's too expensive.

I do agree another top 6 guy who could also play top 3 or 4 would be what I would target - if that means you have to move a few guys then do it. There's no real reason to have a Booth, Higgins or Raymond on the 4th line as they won't get much playing time anyway. Would rather use a couple of those guys and another asset to upgrade to a better top 6 guy.

I don't agree we need a dman though, the D has been absolutely fine other than last night.

Meds wrote:After watching Vigneault's handling of the line combinations tonight it is pretty clear that there is not room on this team for all the forwards we have. It's not even a matter of finances either. Booth and Kassian can both play on the 4th line, but that is a gross waste of cap space in Booth and Kassian won't develop into the player Vancouver needs him to be down the road. Higgins fits in nicely anywhere in the middle 6, as do Raymond and Hansen. But none of them are going to be properly utilized on the 4th line.

Based on what we see with Booth back, I think the team needs to look at moving one of Booth or Higgins with Luongo. It makes no sense to be wasting up that kind of money on a fourth line player. I like the speed that Booth brings, and prefer him to Higgins most games. The team is just not as balanced in the forward department as it used to be it seems.....

Isn't that why players like the Sedins, Kesler, Bieksa, Edler, etc took hometown discounts, so they could pay for depth on the 3rd and 4th lines?

Yes, it is. But that was in a different cap world than we are about to go into in September.

I also think that the injury to Malhotra really put a kink in the roster. I think the fans would much prefer watching the Canucks rip things up with 3 scoring lines, Vigneault prefers to have his 3rd line shutdown unit, right now the only center we have who is capable of shutting down opposing teams top forwards is Kesler, but he's playing on the 2nd line and is expected to put up points and contribute in a more offensive role.

Rumsfeld wrote:I wouldn't mind a 4 million dollar third line guy, if that guy is a legit 2nd line center we use on the third line. Think Jordan Staal on the Pens.

Packaging Raymond with Luongo while he's hot would be a good idea right now.

I've had the same thought about Raymond - he's a UFA this offseason so you either try to sign him before the deadline or you look to trade him. A guy like Raymond could get you some good asses at the deadline that you could either hold or flip for another asset to improve the team.

I don't mind either way, Raymond is a solid two way guy but if the team gets better I'm all for it.

Holy McChristian she-ite Muslim, ya don't give up a Luongo and a throw in a Raymond, one of our best players right now for bottom 6 presence. Holy c(r)ow! Totally brilliant. When you are trading Luongo, you best be trying for Top 6 forward or top 4 defenseman either in the way of a player who can play now or in the way of potential in those areas through a high draft pick or a top prospect with those kinds of potentials.

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate

Rumsfeld wrote:I wouldn't mind a 4 million dollar third line guy, if that guy is a legit 2nd line center we use on the third line. Think Jordan Staal on the Pens.

Packaging Raymond with Luongo while he's hot would be a good idea right now.

RoyalDude wrote:Holy McChristian she-ite Muslim, ya don't give up a Luongo and a throw in a Raymond, one of our best players right now for bottom 6 presence. Holy c(r)ow! Totally brilliant. When you are trading Luongo, you best be trying for Top 6 forward or top 4 defenseman either in the way of a player who can play now or in the way of potential in those areas through a high draft pick or a top prospect with those kinds of potentials.

Rumsfeld wrote:I wouldn't mind a 4 million dollar third line guy, if that guy is a legit 2nd line center we use on the third line. Think Jordan Staal on the Pens.

Packaging Raymond with Luongo while he's hot would be a good idea right now.

RoyalDude wrote:Holy McChristian she-ite Muslim, ya don't give up a Luongo and a throw in a Raymond, one of our best players right now for bottom 6 presence. Holy c(r)ow! Totally brilliant. When you are trading Luongo, you best be trying for Top 6 forward or top 4 defenseman either in the way of a player who can play now or in the way of potential in those areas through a high draft pick or a top prospect with those kinds of potentials.

If Gillis could have gotten Kadri for Luongo, he should have taken it and run. It's funny seeing old posts of Canuck fans laughing at how horrible and useless Kadri is. Kid is playing well defensively, plays physical, is a great passer and is the real deal.

BigTuna wrote:If Gillis could have gotten Kadri for Luongo, he should have taken it and run. It's funny seeing old posts of Canuck fans laughing at how horrible and useless Kadri is. Kid is playing well defensively, plays physical, is a great passer and is the real deal.

Hockey in the EAST is much more wide open. WEST has bigger defenders and not as much room on the ice. Kadri's success in the East would not be the same out here.

To date, Luongo has been the Canucks MVP. Still having him on this roster is a good thing.

I know that Potatoe is a big fan of the Kadri types but I don't see a good fit with Canuck hockey and the chemistry of this group. Don't see any real tangible benefits in a Kadri. We got Raymond whom I think is more of a complete package. The Canucks don't need a Kadri type. Definitely would not do a Luongo for Kadri trade.

Someone needs to give Yzerman's head a shake. If there is a team that would be a perfect marriage in a Luongo trade and stand to greatly improve in cup run with Luongo is the Tampa Bay Lightning. They are in Florida and positioned to make hay now in the playoffs. Their G.A. ain't good.

I know Brett Connolly is down in the minors but he is racking up the points big time down there and making his way to the top of the scoring leaders list, 5th overall on the leader board. C'mon Stevie Y, pull the trigger. Connolly would look nice in our top 6. Kesler centering Connolly and Kassian? Big and Skilled and Young. The K(i)CK ass line!

Remember Gillis Lamenting - "Bigger, Younger, Faster"

Connolly is 6'-2" - 213 lbsKadri is 6'-0" - 188lbs

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate